Toy automobile



E. R. DoAK |E1' AL TOY AUTOMOBILE Filed May 19, 1947 March 2.1, 195,0

Patented Mar. 21, 1950 TOY AUTOMOBIE Edmond R. VDoak l` and Nelson E. Grace, :Los Angeles, Calif., alssignors .to-Doak Aircraft Co., Inc., Torranc'e, -'Galif., ;a corporation of California Application May`19, 1947, Serial No.:748,942

4 Claims. i b The present nvention relates to a toy automoile.

An object of the present invention is to 'provide an improved toy automobile-characterized by its ruggedness and simplicity of construction.

Another specific object of the present in-vention is to provide an improved toy automobile of streamlined appearance 'with a relatively wide front and a relatively narrowtail resembling a teardrop, the particular steering and propelling mechanism for the same Vbeing an important feature of the present invention. I

Still, another object of the present invention is ito provide an improved toy automobile having as-one 'of its features a new mounting for the bumper thereof.

Yet another specific object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy automobile which lmav be made relativel'y inexpensively and capable of using present day mass production methods in its fabrcation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy automobile having a pair of front drivewheels and a single rear Wheel which may be Controlled in a novel manner to steer the automobile.

Still'a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved toy automobileincluding novel means whereby the wheel axles may be supported within a. streamlined shell forming the body of the automobile.

Still a further object of the present invention is `.to provide .an 4improved .automobile in which the component elements thereof may be quickly vand conveniently .assembled thereon.

The features of the present invention lwhich are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. This invention itself, both as to its organization andmannei' of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a toy automobile embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the underside of the automobile in Figure 1, and with a portion thereof broken away to show one of the front axle bearing structures.

Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken substantially and respectively on the line 3-3 and 4-4 of Figure 2.

The toy automobile shown herein includes a streamlined shell member 1.0 which serves both as .thebody and'theframe; a .pair 'offfront Wheels H land v1.2 which aref'mounted for rotation onthe pedal-shaft 14; :a steerable'rear wheel E6 which can'b'eforiented for 'steeringrpurposes .bymovement of the s'teerin-g/ wheel;1 H' 'through' the'V mechanism comprising infiturn crankarm '18, rod'l9, pivotedfiever. member .23, actuating .rod I. 2 I ,Crank arm 22 .and rotatable wheel supportfl; and-also a 'front bumper 25 which issupported 'both on the pedal'shaft-:lid vandthe :body I ll.

The automobile 'fsh'ovm .and -des'cribed fherein is'essentially 'the same as theone shown .in our Design Patent 146,465, patented Marchfl., 1947.'

AThe .automobile body .and frame 'member 'i'll'is preferab'lyv formed of twohalf. stampings of. ;Sheet metal which arethen riveted or welded together along aline extending centrally and ongitudinallyof the automobile to form.a,-streamlined outershell. This .outer shell serves vboth as the body anda1so'asthe'frame.

.The axle M :bent'to .forma pair of crankzmembers MAand MBihasiits'endsjournaled for-rotation'inta `pair-of respective bearing members 30 which are fastened by screws 'or bolts 3| .to the. frame 1:0. .Thecrank'members [4A and MB have Veach "mounted thereon a convenient footrest l'lCand 1413,.,respective1y, for engagement with'and'propulsion by the driver of the automobile whomay conveniently 'sit on the seat':35 provided Vby the subframe'it, thefoot poda-Is MC and I=4D-being pivotally mounted on the cranks The rear wheel IE mounted for rotation in the wheel holder 24 is mounted for movement as a unittozprovide steering 'by journaling the wheel holder 212 in the subrearzportion of the subfra-me 36, the subframe :36 being, of course, fastened. to'theshell. i along, for example, the bottom-arcuatefshaped fiange i IOA. The upper end of the. wheel .holder '24 has .a vCrank arm '22 whichis pin 'connected' to theactuatingrod 2 I.

It is noted that the subframe 36 may befabricated as a unit and then slipped through the bottom opening of the Shell ID into position where the corresponding arcuate shaped adjacent abutting edges of the subframe 36 and shell IG may be fastened together by bolts, Welding, and the like, the particular triangular configuration of the subframe and the opening in the bottom of the automobile conveniently allowing this expedient.

This subframe, of. course, comprises the seat 35 and the support for the Wheel holder 24 which is pivotally mounted thereon. The steering wheel l'l which serves to orient the direction of the plane of the Wheel 16 is journaled for rotation at two points, respectively, on the rib members 40 and 4| each mounted on the inner surface of the shell Ill. Rotational movement of the steering wheel l'l thus causes angular movement of the crank |8 and substantially longitudinal movement of the rod IB to rotate the lever member 2D and to correspondingly move the actuating 'rod 21 and the crank member 22, the lever member 2|! being pin connected to an extension of the stationary rib member 40.

The pumper 25 has a pair of spaced parallel rods 50 and 5| attached thereto, each of which are mounted for spring biased telescopio movement in the outer cooperating telescopic members 52 and 53, respectively.

These outer telescopic members 52 and 53 each have one of their ends mounted on the axle M and the other one of theirends mounted on the front portion of the shell at spaced points thereon. The connection between members 52 and 53 and the axle Ill being through bearing members 54 and 55, respectively, allow free rotational movement of the aXle 14. A compression spring 60 in each one of the outer telescopic members 52 and 53 normally biases the bumper 25 away from the shell ll to the position corresponding to the engagement of the stop member 6| with the slotted portion of the tube 52. The stop member 6| may comprise a cotter pin or the like which serves also to facilitate the assembly of the composite bumper structure.

Thus, the bumper rods 5B and 5| extend through the shell 10 and are capable of sliding movement in the members 52, 53, the bumper being yieldably urged outwardly by means of the Springs 68 within the tubular rods 52, 53.

While the wheel ll is keyed to the shaft or axle 14 for rotation therewith the other wheel 12 is mounted by means of the interposed bearing member 1G for independent rotational movement with respect to the axle of shaft 14 in order to.

provide a differential action, whereby the automobile may be conveniently and easily steered around Corners.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim:

l. A toy automobile comprising a pedal crank shaft, a shell member comprising the body portion of said automobile, a pair of bearing members mounted on and in the interior of said shell and supporting the Crank shaft for rotation, a bumper extending through said shell member, and bearing members attaching said bumper to said axle.

2. In a toy automobile comprising a front pedal crank shaft, a shell comprising the body portion of said automobile, a bumper passing through said shell and partially supported thereby at the place where it passes through said shell, bearing means arranged to attach said bumper to said crank shaft, a pair of spaced bearing members mounted on the interior of said shell and arranged to support said crank shaft.

3. In a toy automobile having but a. single rear steerable wheel, a shell member having a triangular opening in the bottom thereof with the apex thereof at the rear of said automobile, a triangular subframe arranged for insertion and fastening engagement with the edges of said triangular portions abutting, said subframe comprising a seat for the driver of the automobile and a hanger for the singular rear wheel of the automobile, a front pedal axle, a bumper passing through said shell member and partially supported thereby at the place where it passes through said shell member, and bearing members attaching said bumper to said pedal axle.

4. In a toy automobile having but a single rear steerable Wheel, a steering wheel for said automobile at the forward portion thereof, a frame member for said automobile, said steering wheel being rotatably mounted on said frame member and having a crank member thereof, a pivoted lever member on said frame, said rear wheel being mounted on a Wheel carrier, said wheel carrier being attached to a crank arm, and actuating rods connecting said steering Wheel Crank to said lever member, and an actuating rod connecting said pivoted lever member to the crank on the wheel carrier, a pedal axle, a streamlined outer shell attached to said frame member, a bumper passing through said shell and partially supported thereby at the place where it passes through said Shell, and bearing members attaching said bumper to said pedal axle.

EDMOND R. DOAK. NELSON E. GRACE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

